Reference: Discerning Of Spirits
American
1Co 12:10, a miraculous gift of the Holy Ghost to certain of the early church, empowering them to judge of the real character of those who professed to love Christ, and to be inspired to teach in his name, 1Jo 4:1; 2Jo 1:7. Compare Ac 5:1-10; 13:6-12.
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And a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold an estate and kept back a part from the price, his wife knowing it along with him; and having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles. read more. But Peter said, Ananias, wherefore hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back a part from the price of the land? Remaining with thee did it not belong to thee; and having been sold, was it not still in thy control? why hast thou placed this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied to men, but to God. And Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, breathed out his soul. And great fear came on all hearing; and the young men, rising up, took him, and having carried him out, buried him. And an interval of about three hours supervened, and his wife, not having known what had taken place, came in. And Peter responded to her, Tell me if you sold the place for so much? And she said; Yes, for so much. And Peter said to her; Why has it been agreed with you to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of those having buried thy husband are at the door, and they will carry thee out. And immediately she fell at his feet, and breathed out her soul; and the young men having come in found her dead, and having carried her out, buried her with her husband.
And having gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet, to whom was the name of Bar-Jesus: who was with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, an intelligent man. He, having called Barnabas and Saul, sought to hear the word of God; read more. but Elymas the magician (for thus his name is interpreted) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. And Saul, (who is also Paul), being filled with the Holy Ghost, fixing his eyes on him, said, O thou full of all guile and rascality, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease perverting the right ways of God? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately there fell on him a mist and darkness; and going about he was seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, seeing that which took place, believed; being delighted with the teaching of the Lord.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits if they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Fausets
1Co 12:10. Discerning between the operation of God's Spirit and that of the evil spirit, or unaided human spirit claiming to utter the dictates of God's Spirit. Ac 5:1-11; 8:28; 1Co 14:23,37: "if any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." It is this which assures us of the inspiration of the New Testament The books were accepted as inspired, by churches having men possessing" the discerning of spirits" (1Jo 4:1; 1Ti 4:1).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold an estate and kept back a part from the price, his wife knowing it along with him; and having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles. read more. But Peter said, Ananias, wherefore hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back a part from the price of the land? Remaining with thee did it not belong to thee; and having been sold, was it not still in thy control? why hast thou placed this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied to men, but to God. And Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, breathed out his soul. And great fear came on all hearing; and the young men, rising up, took him, and having carried him out, buried him. And an interval of about three hours supervened, and his wife, not having known what had taken place, came in. And Peter responded to her, Tell me if you sold the place for so much? And she said; Yes, for so much. And Peter said to her; Why has it been agreed with you to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of those having buried thy husband are at the door, and they will carry thee out. And immediately she fell at his feet, and breathed out her soul; and the young men having come in found her dead, and having carried her out, buried her with her husband. And great fear came on all the church, and on all those hearing these things.
and was returning, and sitting upon his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits if they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.